New Oxy leads addicts to Opana, other opiates

Purdue Pharma’s introduction of its new formulation of OxyContin, OP, hasn’t done much to curb the opiate addiction crisis – but is anyone surprised? (The company admitted when it launched OP that “there is no evidence that the reformulation of OxyContin is less subject to misuse, abuse, diversion, overdose or addiction.”) Not only are addicts already figuring out ways to abuse OP – as evidenced by a simple Google search – they’re also increasingly turning to other prescription drugs that contain oxycodone. This is likely why we’ve been hearing more about Percocet 30s and Roxycodone, as well as the painkiller Opana. A recent case out of Minnesota highlights this growing trend, with the Department of Justice stating that Opana abuse “has become increasingly more prevalent since OxyContin, which contains the related opiate oxycodone, was altered to discourage abuse.” And don’t forget about heroin, which is cheaper than prescription opiates and provides the same high. Not exactly the easy fix Purdue was hoping for, is it?

About Erin Marie Daly

I’m a freelance journalist based in San Francisco. My book on prescription drug and heroin addiction was published in August 2014 by Counterpoint Press.